BSB Series Preview: WBU vs. Champion Christian (Jan. 28, Feb. 3)

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (1/27/25) – The Williams Baptist University baseball team is set to kick off its' 2025 campaign with a home and home series against Champion Christian.

SERIES INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (0-0, 0-0 AMC) vs CHAMPION CHRISTIAN TIGERS (0-0)

GAME ONE - Tuesday, Jan. 28 - 11:30 p.m. CST - Shell Field (Walnut Ridge, Ark.)
Live stats - https://wbueagles.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/boxscores/20250128_xds4.xml
Live video - wbueagles.com/watch 

GAME TWO - Tuesday, Jan. 28 - 1:30 p.m. CST - Shell Field (Walnut Ridge, Ark.)
Live stats - https://wbueagles.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/boxscores/20250128_ssxm.xml
Live video - wbueagles.com/watch 

GAME THREE - Monday, Feb. 3 - Tiger Field (Hot Springs, Ark.)

MATCHUP FACTS

Last Game: Feb. 15, 2024 (CCC 4-3)
Current Streak: CCC W2

WBU QUICK FACTS

2025 Record: 0-0 (0-0 AMC)
Current Streak: None
2024 Record: 30-20 (9-12 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Stephen Abanathy (9th)
HC Record: 155-218 (56-132 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Jared Dahl (4th)

ABOUT CHAMPION CHRISTIAN

2024-25 Record: 0-0
Current Streak: None
2023-24 Record: 12-22
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Clark (1st)

CHAMPION CHRISTIAN NOTABLES

• The Tigers went 12-22 a season ago

• The team will be led by first year head coach Josh Clark, who previously served as the team's assistant coach

• Champion's roster features only four seniors

• The Tigers went 10-8 in Hot Springs last season

LAST TIME OUT

• Williams is coming off a successful 2024 campaign, which saw the squad win 30 games for the first time since 2001.

• WBU's 2024 campaign saw its first wins over a NCAA Division I team since 2001 as well.

• WBU made a late run in the AMC Tournament to finish third, highlighted by a 2-0 victory over (RV) Columbia powered by a complete game shutout by Parker Jeffries

• The Eagles finished 5th in the AMC with a conference record of 9-12

WBU NOTABLES

• RHP Parker Jeffries, C Nicholas Jones, SS Jacob Watkins, 2B Gavin Mink, and OF Tyrell Burnett all return as key pieces for the Eagles in 2025

• WBU returns seven AMC All-Conference players from 2024

• In contrast, a few newcomers look to make immediate impacts for WBU, including RHP Nash Koczka, RHP Coleton Payton, RHP Jackson Finder, 3B Connor Brinkley, and IF/RHP Mari Thomas

• As a team, WBU sported the 3rd lowest ERA in the American Midwest Conference in 2024 with a 5.77

• The Eagles went 18-9 at Shell Field in 2024

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Up next, the Eagles will take on Philander-Smith in another home and home series.  Game one in Little Rock will be on Friday, Feb. 7 with first pitch at noon, then the teams will come back to Walnut Ridge for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 12 & 2 p.m.

• WBU's 2025 schedule features 27 home games at Shell Field.